General Information

Welcome to the Vein Institute of the Midwest!
Located in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, the Vein Institute of the Midwest, an affiliate of Vascular Surgery Associates P.A., specializes in state-of-the-art technologies and techniques for the minimally invasive treatment of varicose and spider veins. The techniques are performed in an outpatient setting using local anesthesia and minimal sedation.
Our staff at the Vein Institute of the Midwest is committed to compassionate, professional, comprehensive treatment of all vascular patients in a comfortable, friendly office. Initial evaluation, diagnostic venous ultrasound, conservative therapy and intervention are all available at our Shawnee Mission, Kansas office. We are committed to serving those in the Kansas City metro area, Shawnee Mission, Overland Park, Leawood, Olathe and outlying areas in Missouri and Kansas.

Physician Profile

Dr. Richard C. Arnspiger, MD, FACS
Dr. Arnspiger is a native Kansan and a graduate of the
University of Kansas School of Medicine. After earning his medical degree, he
completed his residency in General Surgery at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas
City, and a fellowship in Vascular Surgery at the University of Tennessee
Memphis. Returning to the Kansas City area, Dr. Arnspiger has practiced for
nearly two decades as a Board Certified Vascular Surgeon.

Dr. Jenny Grace Cho, MD

Dr. Cho graduated from the
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She completed residency in
General Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati and fellowship in
Vascular Surgery at Indiana University. She is board certified in vascular surgery.

Services Provided

Varicose Vein Symptoms

Varicose veins are dark blue, swollen, and twisted veins visible through the skin. People with varicose veins describe having legs that feel heavy, tired, achy, and painful. Symptoms may worsen after standing or sitting for long periods of time. If you have varicose veins, you may also notice skin color changes, dry, thin skin, irrated skin, open sores, or bleeding.

Sometimes a blood clot or injury develops near the surface of the skin near a vein. This is called thrombophlebitis.

Although varicose veins are not considered serious, in some cases, varicose veins can signal a blockage in the deeper veins. This condition, called deep vein thrombosis, requires evaluation and possibly treatment.

Q: What causes varicose veins? A: The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients to the whole body. Arteries carry blood from the heart towards the body parts. Veins carry oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart. The squeezing of leg muscles pumps blood back to the heart from the lower body. Veins have valves that act as one-way flaps. These valves prevent the blood from flowing backwards as it moves up the legs. If the oneway valves become weak, blood can leak back into the vein and collect there. This problem is called venous insufficiency. Pooled blood enlarges the vein and it becomes varicose.

Many factors increase a person’s chances of developing varicose veins: